Shorthand machine



Jan. 29, 1946. D. 1.. SHELTON SHORTHAND MACHINE Filed May 5, 1944 2 Sheet-Sheet l l l l I ZA'izeZZorz IN V EN TOR.

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Jan. 29, 1946. D. SHELTON SHORTHAND MACHINE Filed May 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IN V N TOR. JJLfl/wltari Patented Jan. 29, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHORTHAND mom Dothan L. Shelton, Amarillo, Tex. Application May 5, 1944, Serial No. 534,321

11 Claims.

This invention relates to shorthand machines and has for its object to provide a shorthand machine having a minimum number of finger keys adapted to be operated either singly or in combinations and so arranged that their operation will actuate a number of type bars on which are arranged a number of alphabetic, numeral, and other characters commonly used in writing, so arranged that any desired numeral, letter, word or syllable may be written in the clear and not in code as is often necessary when using shortland machines of known construction. This is accomplished by novel means embodying a keyboard comprised of fingerkeys adapted to actuate a selector mechanism for the purpose of selecting letters or combinations of letters to be written and type bars adapted to cooperate with the selector mechanism in such way as to print the characters, letters, or combinations of letters desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a shorthand machine embodying the invention, showing internal construction, the frame and other conventional mechanisms being omitted.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the printing head showing in particular the type bars, and the corresponding thrust bars.

Figure 3 is a'representation of the type bar actuating mechanism.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the medial or vowel finger keys and the corresponding selector mechanism.

Figure 5 is a distended oblique view of the selector mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 4.

Figure 6 is a view of the medial letter type bar printing heads, showing the arrangement of letters and characters thereon.

Referring to the drawings there is disclosed certain essential parts and mechanisms relating to this invention. The platen A, ribbon spool B and other mechanisms of the machine such as the line spacing mechanism, the ribbon guides and ribbon feed mechanisms and other essential parts common to shorthand machines which are not here shown may be of any conventional or desired construction. These parts are omitted from the drawings and specifications for the sake of brevity.

Mounted in the frame of the machine is shaft I (Figure 1) which supports a plurality of key levers 2 provided on their forward ends with fingers keys 2a. Intermediate shaft and finger keys 2a and mounted on shaft 4, are a plurality of bell cranks. Said bell cranks correspond in number to the key levers and are connected individually at their lower ends to 9. corresponding key lever by means of links 3. On the upper end of each of said bell cranks is provided a pin 6 which is adapted to engage slot 6a. Mounted above the key levers are a plurality of selector bars indicated generally by the numeral 1, varying slightly in design as required to perform the type selecting function, and indicated specifically by the numeral 1 in combination with a letter. Said selector bars are slid-ably mounted at their forward and rearward ends in guides 8 and 9 respectively. Lying between selector bars and parallel thereto are auxiliary selector bars indicated by the numeral 21. Said auxiliary selector bars are provided according to the requirements of type selections and are mounted at their forward and rearward ends in the same manner as the selector bars and serve substantially the same purpose as the selector bars I. Attached to hell crank 5 is spring 32 which serves to retain th key levers and selector bars in normal or rest positions. The selector bars 1 and auxiliary selector bars 21 are provided with notches in the upper edges and projections on their lower edges shown at 28, 29 and 30; said notches and projections being provided to perform certain functions according to the requirements of type selections and being specifically referred to by their respective numeral in combination with a letter.

Mounted to the rear and above the selector bars are guides 24 and 25 which support a plurality of thrust bars 23 adapted to contact type bars ill corresponding in number to the number of thrust bars 23. Said thrust bars 23 are indirectly operated by the selector bars, the thrust bars operating to force the type bars 10 against the printing surface as hereinafter explained. On the forward end of each of said thrust bars 23 is pivotally mounted a selector arm generally indicated by the numeral 26 and specifically indicated by the numeral 26 in combination with a letter. Selector arm 26 is provided on its forward end with contact head 20 adapted to make contact with selector bars I and auxiliary selector bars 21.

To the rear of the thrust bars are mounted a plurality of type bars ID. The upper ends of said type bars are carried in guide 2|. The lower end of each of said type bars is pivotally mounted on the rear end of a corresponding bell crank H. Said bell cranks are mounted on shaft [2. Intermediate the selector bars and the type bars and below the thrust bars is mounted shaft I8 on which are mounted a plurality of cams of the types l4 and ill (see Figure 3). Projecting above the axis or each of said cams and formin a part thereof is an arm on which is pivotally mounted a selector arm generally indicated by the numeral l1 and specifically indicated by the numeral II in combination with a letter. Carried on the upper portion of guide 9 are springs 9' that are connected with the cams l4 and IQ for the purpose of retaining said cams in normal or rest position. Immediately below said cams is mounted shaft l2 on which is carried a plurality of bell cranks of the type II above referred to. There is also carried on shaft l2 a plurality of bell cranks of the type IS, the rearward ends of which are provided with a transverse bar i6 adapted to contact a plurality of bell cranks of the type II for the purpose of shifting type bars into third printing position as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, and as hereinafter explained. Intermediate type bars ill and bell cranks II are provided a plurality of springs 33 adapted to retain type bars and related parts in rest position. On each of said type bars is provided a type head 22 on which is carried a number of letters, numerals, and other characters commonly used in writing as indicated in Figure 6. It will be observed by reference to Figure 6 that a plurality of letters and characters are carried on each type bar and I are disposed in vertical spaced relation. This is done for the purpose of keeping the number of type bars to a minimum. In operation the type bars are automatically shifted to the required position for writing the characters desired.

For the sake of clearness and brevity, only a portion of the finger keys are disclosed in the drawings (Figure 4), and the specifications cover only a small number of the letter combinations possible. The principles set forth however are extended to the entire keyboard in such way as to provide all the letters and letter combinatiom necessary for the writing of any word or syllable.

In operation, when finger key 2a is depressed, key lever 2 is carried downward, imparting a downward motion to rearwardly extending arm of bell crank 5 by means of connecting link 3, tipping bell crank rearwardly. Pin 6 acting in slot Ba. moves selector bar I rearwardly in its mountings 8 and 9. The dotted lines in Figure 1 show fully depressed finger key and the resultant positions of related parts. The first part of the rearward movement of selector bar moves notch 30 under contact head 20 of selector arm 26, allowing contact head to drop down into notch as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. This action establishes contact between selector arm 26 and selector bar 'I so that further movement of selector bar will move selector arm rearwardly. The rearward movement of selector arm 26 carries thrust bar 23 in a rearward direction into contact with type bar l0, forcing said type bar into printing position. It will be observed that the action above described causes the printingof letters and characters in the first or upper position on the type bars. The operation of all single key letters is substantially the same as above set forth.

Letters or combinations of letters which require the operation of more than one key to effeel: their printing and which appear. in the second or intermediate position on the type bar are obtained in the following manner: Should it be desired to write the letter Y, the finger keys for A and Y are depressed simultaneously. This action through means previously explained moves selector bars Ia and 11/ rearwardly. The first part of this movement carries notches 30a and 3011 on the rearward part of'selector bars la and 11/, under selector arm lly, allowing contact head to drop down into notches as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, thus .establishing contact between selector arm l'ly and selector bars 1a and 1y, so that further movement of selector bars will move selector arms in a rearward direction. The rearward movement of selector bar 1y carries notch 28 from beneath the head of selector arm 26a, preventing said selector arm from dropping into notch 30a as it passes beneath the head of said selector arm. Thus selector arm 30a is rendered inactive.

Further movement of selector bars, carries selector arm Hy rearwardly, turning cam I4 in a clockwise direction. The periphery oi said cam is so designed that the turning thereof will force pin I3, carried on the upper arm of bell crank II and adapted to contact the periphery of cam H, in a downward direction. This action turns bell crank II on its axis and raises type bar In into the second or intermediate printing position. The action thus far described takes place during the first part of the finger key movement. Further movement of finger keys moves projection 34 on the rearward end of selector arm I1 into contact with lug 35 on thrust bar 23, bringing thrust bar into contact with type bar and forcing said type bar into contact with printing surface, causing the letter Y to be printed. The operation for all letters and characters appearing in the second position on the type bars is substantially the same as above set forth.

Letters or characters carried in the third or lower position on the type bar are obtained in the following manner. To illustrate, should it be desired to write the semicolon the finger keys for O and I and the shift key UE are depressed simultaneously a10ng with the finger key for E. This action through means previously explained moves selector bars I0, 11', and We rearwardly. The first part of this movement carries notches 301: on the rearward part of selector bars under the head of selector arm I'lx, allowing contact head to drop down into notches as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, thus establishing contact between selector arm Ha: and selector bars 10, ii, and Tue so that further movement of selector bars will move selector arm in a rearward direction. The rearward movement of selector bars 10, Ii, and we tends to carry projections 29 away from cross arm 3| which is fixedly mounted on auxiliary bar 21. This action allows spring 32 to move auxiliary selector bar 21 in a rearward direction simultaneously with the selector bars before referred to. This action carries notches 28 from beneath transverse heads of selector arms 260, 262', and "ac, rendering said selector arms inactive, and thereby preventing corresponding type bars from being moved into printing position. Further movement of selector bars will move selector arm llx rearwardly, turning cam IS in a clockwise direction. The movement of this cam by means of pin l3 forces the forward end of hell crank l5 downward, raising the rearward end thereof, which by means of the transverse head It raises the type bars into the third printing position as shown by dotted lines in Figure l. The simultaneous movement of the finger key for E carries notch 30a beneath the head of selector arm 26a which drops into said notch. Further movement of this selector bar carries selector arm 26e in a rearward direction, which by means of thrust bar 23 forces type bar It) against the printing surface, causing the semicolon to print. The writing of all letters and characters appearing in the third position on the type bars are written in substantially the same manner as described above.

It will be observed that with the arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings three or more letters or characters can be carried on each type bar, making it possible with only 23 type bars and a corresponding number of finger 7 keys to write a total of 69 characters or more. By the extension of the principles herein set forth to a properly arranged keyboard of the type commonly used on shorthand machines, it will be possible to write every letter and character commonly used in writing in the clear and not in code as is commonly done. on conventional shorthand machines.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, vertically movable pivoted type bars having indicia arranged in vertical spaced relation, mounted on the frame adjacent to the platen, key levers mounted on the frame, selector bars disposed above the key levers and adapted to operatively connect predetermined key levers, selector arms mounted above the key levers, and being operatively connected with the selector bars, and thrust bars pivotally connected with the selector arms and adapted to strike the type bars, moving said type bars into printing relation with the platen.

2. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, vertically movable type bars pivotally mounted on the frame adjacent to the platen, said type bars having indicia arranged thereon in vertical spaced relation with each other, key levers mounted on the frame, selector arms operatin above the key levers, means for selectively connecting the selector arms and key levers, whereby movement of the key levers operates predetermined selector arms, thrust bars connected with the selector arms, and said thrust bars adapted to move the type bars into printing relation with the platen when the key levers are operated.

3. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, a plurality of key levers mounted on the frame, selector bars, means for transmitting movement of the key levers to the selector bars, selector arms mounted above the selector bars, means for selectively connecting the selector arms and selector bars, vertically movable type bars disposed adjacent to the platen, and thrust bars connected with said selector arms and adapted to strike the type bars, moving the type bars into printing relation with the platen.

4. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, a plurality of key levers mounted on the frame, selector arms mounted above the key levers, cams pivotally connected with the selector arms, vertically movable type bars mounted within the frame, said type bars having a plurality of type arranged in vertical spaced relation with each other, thereon, means for transmitting movement of the cams to the type bars, whereby said type bars are moved vertically predetermined distances, selectively bringing the type into printing relation with the platen, and means for transmitting movement of the key levers to the selector arms.

5. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, pivoted type bars having indicia arranged in vertical spaced relation thereon, mounted adjacent to the platen, means for moving the type bars vertically, whereby predetermined indicia is moved into operative relation with the platen, said type bar moving means embodying bell crank .levers mounted on the frame and to which the type bars are pivotally connected, cams .pivotally mounted within the frame and adapted to engage the bell crank levers, selector arms to which the cams are connected, manually operated key levers, means for transmitting movement of the key levers to said selector arms, and means for driving said type bars toward the platen.

6. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, pivoted type bars having indicia arranged in vertical spaced relation thereon, mounted adjacent to the platen, means for moving the type bars vertically predetermined distances, said type bar moving means embodying bell crank levers mounted on the frame and to which said type bars are pivotally connected, key levers mounted on the frame, selector bars operating above the key levers, means for transmitting movement of the key levers to the selector bars, auxiliary selector bars operating between the selector bars, means for selectively connecting the selector: arms and auxiliary selector bars, thrust bars adapted to strike said type bars, moving the type bars into printing relation with the platen, selector arms connected with the thrust bars, and means for selectively connecting the selector bars and auxiliary selector bars, whereby movement of the selector bars and selector arms operates the thrust bars and type bars.

7. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, a plurality of key levers mounted on the frame, selector arms mounted above the key levers, cams pivotally connected with the selector arms, vertically movable type bars mounted within the frame, said type bars having a plurality of types arranged in vertical spaced relation with each other, thereon, means for transmitting movement of the cams to the type bars, whereby said type bars are moved vertically predetermined distances, selectively bringing the types into printing relation with the platen, thrust bars effective to impart operating movement to the type bars, selector arms operatively connected to the thrust bars, and means for transmitting movement of the key levers to the selector arms.

8. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, a plurality of key levers mounted on the frame, selector bars having operative connection with the key levers, auxiliary selector bars normally held against movement by the selector bars, and selectively released by movement of the selector bars, selector arms mounted adjacent to the selector bars, means for selectively connecting the selector arms and the selector bars, pivoted type bars disposed adjacent to the platen and thrust bars connected with said selector arms and adapted to strike the type bars,

moving the type bars into printing relation with the platen.

9. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, pivoted type bars having indicia arranged in vertical spaced relation thereon, mounted adjacent to the platen, means for moving the type bars vertically, whereby predetermined indicia is moved into operative relation with the platen, said type bar moving means embodying bell crank levers mounted on the frame having transverse members provided thereon adapted to operatively contact a predetermined number of the type bars and-effective to impart vertical movement to the type bars, cams pivotally mounted within the frame and adapted to engage the bell crank levers, selector arms to which the cams are connected. manually operated key levers, means for transmitting movement of the key levers to said selector arms, and means for driving said type bars rearwardly toward the platen.

10. In a shorthand machine, a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, pivoted type bars having indicia arranged in vertical spaced relation thereon, mounted adjacent to the platen, means for moving the type bars vertically, whereby predetermined indicia is moved into operative relation with the platen, said type bar moving means embodying bell crank levers mounted on the frame, and pivotally supporting the type bars, other bell crank levers mounted on the frame having transverse members provided thereon adapted to operatively contact a predetermined number of the crank levers, selector arms to which the cams are connected, manually operated key levers, means for transmitting movement of the key levers to said selector arms, and means for driving said type bars rearwardly toward the platen.

11. In a shorthand machine,v a frame, a platen mounted on the frame, pivoted type bars having indicia arranged in vertical spaced relation thereon, mounted adjacent to the platen, means for imparting operative movement to the type bars, whereby predetermined indicia is moved into printing relation with the platen, said type bar moving means embodying thrust bars effective to impart horizontal movement to the type bars, and bell crank levers mounted on the frame to which the type bars are pivotally connected, cams pivotally mounted within the frame and adapted to engage the bell crank levers, and means provided on the cams efiective to operatively contact the thrust bars, imparting operative movement thereto, key levers mounted in the frame, and operative means connecting the key levers with the cams.

DOTHAN L. SHELTON. 

